, 1887-05-04

the Police could interfere, namely that they
could prevent little boys being taken to sea,
to work these schooners, instead of strong
men capable of meeting an emergency. What
he would suggest was, that a yearly inspec-
ton should be made by competent persons,
who should of course be. paid for their SER
vices, and the charge should. fall on the owners.
He did not think they would be unwilling to
pay it, as it would be for their own interest
and would protect those who kept their yes
sells in order from the competition of worthless
vessels. 5f
The Governor replied that q commission
of such a kind as mentioned by the honoura-
BILE Member could not be appointed to in
spect the schooners except by Ordinance.
In all cases where the safety of the public
was concerned, the Police had the right and
the duty of interfering. In most countries,
no doubt, the shipping was 80 extensive that
the duties of inspection would be too much
for the Police and hence special legislation
was resorted to by which special provisions
were made for carrying out the inspection
of vessels. In 1879, the Home Govern
ment brought before the Landsthing a bill of
Law providing for the inspection of all trad
ing vessels; but it met with much opposition
and at last the Government agreed on some
alterations and the bill then passed the Land.
thing and was brought before the Folkething,
where it still is. This bill proposed to exempt
vessels under so tons from inspection; except
when there was grave suspicion it was consi-
dered inexpedient to interfere more than alb.
solutely necessary with those smaller vessels
engaged in the ~coasting trade. The Royal
Ordinance of 10th January 1910 provides,
that log books should he kept by vessels going
out of sight of land, but not by coasting YES
sells. The Law of 10Th February 1861, which
has not been extended to be applicable in the
West Indies, provides rules as to the ability Of
the crew, where the vessel was over about 80
tons registered tonnage. Evidently these
laws would not meet the case here, as our
schooners were not over about 63 tons and
were engaged in a trade of the same character
as the c~oasting trade. The only provision as
to the manning of coasting vessels was in the
Ordinance of 9th April 1853, by which it was
provided, that the shipmaster must be over
81 years of age. Here we had only 4 schoo-
ners engaged in the local trade and one of
these was under contract with the Government
and was inspected regularly. With regard to
the other 3 he thought it would be sufficient
if the Policemaster in case of suspicion would
report to the Government, who could then
appoint a commission to inspect. This was
done in 1863 and the vessel in that instance
was COUu6ulll6u. LII 1CSdlO w nO AK
thought they were sufficiently instructed by
practice and there was no need to examine
them. Again, the commission for examining
vessels would have to be paid and he thought
that would be rather hard on the owners.
On the whole he believed legislation in the
matter was not desirable, many points would
have to be considered, and where should the
limit be drawn? Why should boats forinstance
not also be inspected? He had shewn also
that such legislation would depart from the
Home Laws, which was not desirable. He
considered that the matter must be left in the
hands of the Police.
Bird Crown Member (Faber) begged to sup
port the honorable member for Frederik-
sted's Town District (Brown) in his views.
AS also stated by the honorable member, he
Faber had 20years ago moved the question and
although q promise had then been made as
to the Police keeping a strict eye with the
state of the schooners, yet since that time no
fewer than 8 had disappeared. He could not
urge the matter too strongly. Life and pro-
perty were in danger and he would in every
way favour legislation on the matter.
The Governor would merely remark that
according to the Laws existing concerning
accidents at sea, the master and the crew
shall give an explanation (S0forklaringJ
which when the vessel has been wrecked
shall be given after taking oath before the
Judge. During his 6 years of office, 2 ves-
sells had suffered, the one through the care